How to Get Rid of Onion Grass

Nobody wants to deal with the horror of unwanted onion grass popping up in their grass. Even perfect lawns can fall victim to this unwelcome guest. The good news is that there are several ways to deal with this invasive beast, also known as onion grass.

Dig up the roots

Using a gardening fork or trowel, which is a small gardening shovel, may be the easiest way to deal with a small problem. Onion grass roots and bulbs are not very deep and can usually be easily removed this way. It is important to keep in mind that the entire root system must be dug up and completely removed, to the trash can for instance.

Apply glyphosate

Glyphosate can be applied to the area to kill the weed. In order to use this technique, great care must be taken. Correct conditions, such as weather and temperature, are very important. Instructions need to be followed carefully. It must be kept in mind that glyphosate is a plant killer and may cause harm to any plant that it comes into contact with, not only the onion grass.

Turning to the many weed killers available

A quick peek down the gardening aisle at almost any store will open a variety of options. Commercial weed killers will offer a hand in exterminating the product. In most cases it is best to start by manually removing as many of the clusters as possible. Protection of the healthy grass may be necessary. One way of doing this is to lay cardboard over it where it is conceivable.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

Though nothing is foolproof, a small effort to prevent the growth of onion grass should at least keep it at bay. It is always a good idea to spend some time going over any area that will be planted or landscaped to prepare it. Digging up anything that seems suspicious of becoming a problem is a great way to start. If there is any substantial amount of weeds discovered, a preliminary application of weed killing solution should be considered. A thick layer of mulch on existing grass will help protect an already established lawn.

Being persistent is the key

Constant maintenance is a must to keep onion grass under control. When the invaders are spied sprouting again, pulling them up as soon as possible will be a huge help. Some gardeners chose to use a twice yearly regimen of applying chemicals. Proper timing of the doses will be most effective because of the fact that onion grass is a perennial. To prevent spring growth it is best to use the solution in the late winter. A second application in the late fall will be absorbed into the roots.

More than likely, lawn caretakers everywhere will need to employ a combination of methods to reach success. Above all, it should be remembered that onion grass is a weed and may require an extended amount of time and patience. With some hard work and persistence, even onion grass can be defeated.